The 2020 (and beyond) Tampa Bay Rays - Page 89

Art Deco · 03-08-2022, 12:17 AM

Game 1: The Rays faced a familiar face in an unfamiliar position tonight as Andy Ruggles, who spent the previous three years with the Rays as an OF/DH and smashed 100 homers in that time, was tonight's starting pitcher for the Phillies. Ruggles had pitched with Oakland before being acquired by the Rays but only made one mound appearance for Tampa Bay in those 3 seasons. He's been a regular part of the Philly rotation and was 6-5, 4.63 coming in with not a great BB/K ratio and tonight the Rays hit him for 5 9 5 4 1 4. But unfortunately Brad Jackson was worse and Ruggles and the Phillies got the win 9-6. Jackson was hit for 2 more homers and went 4 9 7 7 0 3. Luis Barela drove in a pair against his old team and Dan Gregory was 2-4 with a triple and an RBI but Jackson put them in too big a hole to overcame.

Game 2: Sloppy play by the Rays tonight as a couple of key errors were followed by a couple of homers off Greg Bookhart, and the offense was stifled as the Phillies crushed them 10-1 tonight to sweep the 2-game series. Bookhart allowed 4 runs in the 3rd on a pair of homers but all the runs were unearned as was another run off him in the 6th as he finished with a strange 5.2 5 6 1 0 3 line which saw his record drop to 8-5 but his ERA improve to 3.95. Ed Pretty continues to be a disaster these days as he allowed 4 more runs in the 7th and now sports a not-nice 6.69 ERA.

Team record: 91-36. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Baltimore.

Art Deco · 03-08-2022, 10:07 AM

Game 1: For the second straight game the Rays couldn't get any offense going and dropped a 4-2 decision to Baltimore at Camden Yards. Only a 2-run homer from Josh Alexander (#38) in the 8th got them on the board as they only managed 7 hits. Gordie Ager gave up a couple early runs but settled in to finish 5.2 7 3 3 2 6, losing for the first time as a Ray.

Game 2: The Rays' late-August malaise continued as they were routed 9-2 by the Orioles, their fourth loss in four games on this road trip. Jose Mendoza continued his one step forward, two steps back season by taking a step back with 3 homers allowed in a 5 7 5 5 3 6 outing which dropped him to 12-8, 5.18. Luis Barela hit HR #31 in a losing cause.

Game 3: Things looked different for the Rays today until they didn't as they were swept by the Orioles in walk-off fashion 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th. Jimmy Leonard hit a 3-run homer (#34) in the 1st to put them ahead early, and Jim Brophy pitched well (6 5 2 1 1 5). But they couldn't get any more runs on the board and after Brophy left Sean Forbes allowed 2 Oriole runs to put them ahead 4-3. The Rays dramatically tied it in the 9th with 2 out when Seth Williams singled home Mike Willis, who had a pinch-single and stole second, but Satoshi Sato had a rare rough outing, giving up 2 hits and a walk in the 9th to let Baltimore walk it off and leave the Rays 0-5 on the trip.

Team record: 91-39. Next up: Back home for 4 vs Boston.

Art Deco · 03-08-2022, 11:41 PM

Game 1: The losing streak reached 6 as the Rays dropped the opener of their 4-game set at Publix Park vs Boston 7-6. Brad Jackson continues in a deep slump and he was hit for all 7 runs today in a 3.2 9 7 6 1 1 outing to drop to 12-6, 4.92. He's allowed 21 ER in his last 4 starts covering 19 1/3 IP and has yielded 6 homers in that stretch. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI and Josh Alexander was 2-4 with a double and RBI as the Rays had plenty of chances to score more than they did, leaving 16 on base.

September 1: Recalled IF/OF Jeff Googins and P Jose Morales from AAA Durham.

Roster expansion time and Googins is a quality fielder at 6 positions with some pop who was up briefly earlier and for a stretch last year. Morales pitched well when up for Mike Barkley and gets another chance with the big club.

Game 2: It wasn't pretty but the Rays broke their 6-game losing streak by outslugging the Red Sox 12-6. Doug Johns drove in 4 with a 3-run HR (#24) in the 1st and an RBI double, Josh Beckett stayed crispy with 3 RBI, including a 2-run homer (#13) and Jose Mendez was 2-4 with HR #18. Greg Bookhart started but couldn't make it through the 5th to get the win as he went 4.1 12 5 5 1 7 as his BABIP approaches .400. Dan Anderson (4-3) picked up the win in relief and Edgar Suarez was impressive, fanning all 5 men he faced.

Game 3: Gordie Ager pitched well and the Rays took a 3-1 lead into the 7th but the bullpen failed them again in a 5-run Boston 7th and they dropped their 7th in 8 games 6-4. The surprising culprit today was Satoshi Sato (8-2), who came in with a 0.76 ERA and saw it nearly double to 1.50 after giving up 4 runs in that inning. It wasn't all his fault as he gave up the tying runs then departed for Ed Pretty, whom I brought in for some reason despite his recent horrid form, and he of course gave up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced. Ager was 5.2 6 1 0 2 4. The 3 early Rays runs came on a 2-run Luis Barela homer (#32) and Jimmy Leonard went back-to-back with him for #35.

Game 4: The Rays salvaged a split with the Red Sox thanks to a 7-5 win but lost starter Jose Mendoza for the rest of the regular season. Mendoza left in the 2nd inning with a sore elbow which will sideline him for about a month. His inability to have a minor league rehab assignment might lead him to being left out of the playoff rotation, if not the roster, though. Luis Barela homered two more times today, (#s 33 & 34), driving in 3, while Doug Johns (#25) and Jose Mendez (#19) went back-to-back in the 4th with solo shots. Dan Gregory was 3-4 with an RBI as well. Jon Harbour (3-0) picked up the win in relief and he's going to get first crack at taking Mendoza's rotation spot. Freddy Zamora had a 1-2-3 9th for save #15.

Team record: 93-41. We no longer have the best record in baseball as the White Sox are 94-41. Next up: Minnesota visits for the weekend.

Art Deco · 03-09-2022, 10:23 AM

Game 1: Jim Brophy hurled a 3-hit shutout and the Rays romped over Minnesota 9-0 at Publix Park. The lefty toyed with the Twins, walking none and fanning five on 108 pitches and is the AL Cy Young-elect at 19-2, 2.80. And the AL MVP-elect is likely Josh Alexander, who was 4-5 with a double (his 52nd), 2 homers (39 & 40) and 5 RBI (he now has 133). Kevin Morley added HR #6.

Game 2: The Twins were what the Rays and Brad Jackson needed as they annihilated Minnesota 16-1 as both put aside their recent struggles. Jackson was 6 3 1 1 2 3 to improve to 13-6, 4.79 and there were plenty of hitting heroes. We'll start with the evergreen Josh Alexander, 4-6 with another double, another homer (#41) and 3 more RBI. Then there was Dan Gregory with a grand slam (#10) in a 5-RBI day, Seth Williams 2-5 with a 3-run HR (#13) and 4-hit days from Josh Beckett and Tony Cordova. And let's not forget Jimmy Leonard's 2-run HR (#36).

Game 3: The Rays gave Minnesota another comprehensive beating with a 7-1 win and a sweep by an aggregate score of 32-3. Greg Bookhart was dazzling (6 1 0 0 0 8 on 92 pitches) to up his record to 9-5, 3.99 while Seth Williams drove in 3 and Dan Gregory was 2-3 with an RBI. Josh Alexander had an off-day by recent standards by only going 2-5 with a lone RBI.

Team record: 96-41. Next up: 3 games at Fenway against the Sawx.

Art Deco · 03-09-2022, 10:22 PM

Game 1: The Rays' road losing streak reached 7 as the bullpen woes continued in a 7-4 loss at Fenway to Boston. Gordie Ager was decent (6 4 3 3 1 5) and they took a 4-3 lead into the 7th when Sean Forbes and Satoshi Sato, who were good for the first 2/3 of the season, struggled once again and combined to allow 4 runs in the inning with Forbes dropping to 6-2. Luis Barela was 3-5 with an RBI to lead the bats.

Game 2: Tampa Bay finally snapped its road losing streak with a 7-4 win at Fenway, although the middle relief was shaky again. Josh Alexander had HR #42 and Luis Barela #35 but leads of 2-0 and 3-2 were lost before Seth Williams drove in the final 3 runs of the game to put them ahead for keeps. Jon Harbour got his first start in over two years and pitched pretty well, running out of gas in the 5th but going 4.2 3 2 2 3 5. Edgar Suarez (2-1) blew the lead in the 6th but vultured the win when the Rays went ahead 5-3 on RBI singles from Tony Cordova and Williams in the 7th. Sean Forbes struggled again, giving up a run in the 7th before Freddy Zamora rescued him and pitched through the 8th while Mike Barkley picked up save #24, his first since July 26 as he was out several weeks and there just haven't been many save opportunities of late with the Rays either winning via rout or losing.

Game 3: The Rays lost their 8th road game in 9 after Boston bested them 7-2 in the rubber game of the series. It was a 1-1 game into the 6th with Jim Brophy looking for win #20, but instead he gave up a 3-run homer and Ed Pretty behind him gave up still another homer, a 2-run shot and that was that. Brophy dropped to 19-3, 2.92 after going 5.1 7 4 4 2 6. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with a double and an RBI as the only Ray who could say he had a good game. Dan Gregory hurt his back and will be out a week with a "moderate" injury, but we won't IL him with the extra players up.

Team record: 97-43. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Detroit.

Art Deco · 03-10-2022, 10:36 AM

Game 1: The Rays' road woes continued as they fell 4-2 to Detroit, making it 9 away games lost in their last 10. Brad Jackson wasn't terrible (6 9 3 3 1 5) but he wasn't great either and dropped to 13-7, 4.78. Jose Mendez hit HR #20 in a losing cause.

Game 2: The bats erupted for 7 runs on 4 homers in the first inning alone as they beat the Tigers 13-6, although not without letting Detroit get within 9-6. Josh Alexander had a 3-run shot (#43), Luis Barela went back-to-back with him for #36, Josh Beckett hit #14 and Tony Cordova #5 in the opening frame alone and Doug Johns had a bases-clearing double later to lead the attack. Greg Bookhart got the early support and cruised for a while before giving up a slam in the 5th and another run in the 6th to finish 5.1 5 6 6 2 4 but still improve to 10-5.

Game 3: The bullpen has been a real problem for the Rays the second half of this season and today was another example as they lost leads of 3-1 and 7-3 in the 9th inning to lose 8-7. Mike Barkley (1-5) was one out away from nailing it down with two on and two out in the 9th but Josh Beckett booted a grounder that would have been the third out and Barkley gave up a 2-run single and then a 3-run homer to let the Tigers win. Gordie Ager started and went 5.2 5 3 3 2 3 with Doug Combs allowing the tying hit, but Tomas Laboy had his second big hit of the game, a 2-run double to make it 5-3 Rays, Beckett singled him home and Mike Willis of all people hit a 447-ft blast to dead center for only his 2nd homer of the year and the Rays looked golden, but no.

Team record: 98-45. Next up: The road trip continues with 3 in Toronto. The win in the second game officially clinched the AL East for the 22nd straight year, but this team is limping toward the playoffs.

Art Deco · 03-10-2022, 11:20 PM

Game 1: Trailing 1-0 after 6 and 2-1 after 7, the Rays fought back late to take a 4-3 win over the Jays at Rogers Centre. Seth Williams hit a 2-run HR (#14) in the 8th to give them a 3-2 lead, but Satoshi Soto lost that lead in the bottom of the frame. Sato was picked up by Tony Cordova, who went deep in top of the 9th (#6) to provide the game-winner. Freddy Zamora (5-2), who got the final out in the 8th, stayed on for the 9th to preserve his own win.

Game 2: Jim Brophy became the newest Rays 20-game winner and nearly pitched a shutout in a 3-1 win over Toronto. Brophy took a 4-hitter into the 9th before giving up a 1-out homer to spoil the shutout and finished 8.1 5 1 1 0 8 to improve to 20-3, 2.84. Mike Barkley got the final 2 outs for save #25. Solo homers from Doug Johns (#26) and Jose Mendez (#21) were all the offense needed tonight.

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of Toronto with a 6-2 win but would have traded it for a healthy Dave Frick as they lost their slick-fielding SS to a broken ankle in the 5th inning, ending his season. Brad Jackson pitched well (7 7 2 1 1 4) and went to 14-7, 4.63 while Doug Johns (#27) and Jose Mendez (#22) both homered for the second straight game and they were joined by Dan Gregory who had a 2-run blast for his 11th.

Team record: 101-45. Next up: Back home for 4 games vs Detroit.

Art Deco · 03-11-2022, 11:13 AM

September 17: Placed SS Dave Frick on the 10-day IL with a broken ankle, recalled IF Jon Callahan from AAA Durham.

Frick is out for the year but we still have 2 spots on the 40-man and the season is almost over, so no need to use the 60-day IL. Callahan has been screwed of late, he started last year as the backup IF and played well before suffering a season-ending injury, and had to go to Durham this year since he had an option and Tomas Laboy didn't. Callahan played a good SS at Durham and probably will slot in as our regular SS vs righties with Jeff Googins against lefties.

Game 1: The Rays took the opener of the 4-game series against Detroit, a team we didn't see all year and now are suddenly playing 7 times in 10 days, 6-4. Greg Bookhart pitched well and pitched to contact, going 5.2 5 2 2 1 1 and improving to 11-5, 4.21 while Mike Barkley had a 2-whiff 1-2-3 9th for save #26. Josh Beckett led the offense, going 2-4 with 3 RBI including a 2-run triple.

Game 2: A 5-1 lead after 5, Gordie Ager on the mound, what could go wrong? Well Ager for one as he was hit for 5 runs in the 6th and the Rays ended up losing 7-5. Ager wasn't helped by a Tomas Laboy error but still was responsible for 3 of the 5 runs and finished 5.2 8 6 4 1 1. As well as he's pitched overall with the Rays his record is only 2-2 with 8 no-decisions although he did get the decision today. Josh Beckett drove in two more and Dan Gregory was 2-4 with and RBI to lead the offense which went cold late.

Game 3: Jon Harbour's third start since joining the rotation did not go nearly as well as the first two as he was hit for 4 runs in the first two innings and the Rays lost again 5-3. Harbour was 3.2 8 4 4 1 2 and took his first loss of the year. Doug Johns had a solo homer (#28) and Luis Barela a 2-run single for the offense.

Game 4: Jim Brophy was dazzling again as his season for the ages continued in a 7-1 Rays win to salvage a series split. Today he was 7 2 1 1 0 11 and his season numbers are 21-3, 2.78. He leads the AL in the pitching triple crown categories (Wins, ERA, Ks) as well as pitcher WAR. Josh Beckett concluded a weekend to remember for him as he was 4-4 with 3 more RBI including a 2-run double and Doug Johns was 2-4 with an RBI double.

Team record: 103-47. Next up: The homestand continues with 3 vs Toronto.

Art Deco · 03-11-2022, 11:44 PM

Game 1: A 3-man offense accounted for all the runs in a 9-7 win over Toronto that shouldn't have been that close. Luis Barela had a 3-run HR (#37) and RBI single to knock in 4, Kevin Morley launched a 3-run shot (#7) and Jose Mendez drilled a 2-run double to supply the offense, and Brad Jackson pitched well enough (5 8 4 3 1 2) to get the win and go to 15-7, 4.66. With a 9-4 lead Ed Pretty came on and immediately put three men on, and then Freddy Zamora gave up 3 straight singles to score them. Mike Barkley had to hold the fort in the 9th for save #27.

Game 2: The Rays ran roughshod on the Jays in a 16-4 rout. Luis Barela topped his 4-RBI game yesterday by driving in 5 on a pair of homers to give him 39 and a single to give him 122 RBI. He's taken over the MLB WAR lead at 7.8 and might become the 2nd man in MLB history after Frank Robinson to win the MVP in both leagues. His chief rival for the hardware is teammate Josh Alexander and he did his best to keep up with Barela by blasting a 3-run shot (#44) while Tony Cordova added a 2-run jack (#7). Jose Mendez drove in 3 more runs and Seth Williams had 3 doubles and an RBI. Greg Bookhart converted the run support into win #12, although he finished 5.1 7 4 4 0 8.

Game 3: Gordie Ager was brilliant and got the win in a 5-2 triumph over Toronto, his 3rd with the Rays and only his 5th decision in 13 starts since joining the club. Ager was 6 3 0 0 1 8 and Mike Barkley had a 1-2-3 9th for save #28. Kevin Morley had a 3-run homer in consecutive starts (#8) and Seth Williams had a solo blast (#15). Luis Barela didn't homer again but was 2-4 with a double and RBI.

Team record: 106-47, we've wrested the best record in MLB back from the White Sox now. Next up: An off-day then Columbus visits for 3 in some late-season interleague action.

Art Deco · 03-12-2022, 10:48 AM

Game 1: The Rays took a 5-1 win over the Lightning to open their final regular season series at Publix Park in 2043. Jimmy Leonard was 3-4 with HR #37, Jon Callahan had a 2-run single to break a 1-1 tie in the 6th, and Doug Johns delivered a 2-run single for insurance in the 7th. Jon Harbour started but ran up a pitch count forcing him to leave in the 5th having gone 4 4 1 1 2 5 on 86 pitches. Dan Anderson (5-3) got the win in relief and Freddy Zamora recorded the final four outs for save #16.

Game 2: The Rays lambasted the Lightning 14-7 in a game that was only that close because Alex Stephens gave up 5 runs in the 9th. Luis Barela keeps doing his thing 2-4 with a double, HR #40 and 4 RBI, Josh Alexander also hit a 2-run HR (#45) as part of a 3-5 day, Dan Gregory had a 3-run blast (#12) and Jose Mendez had one too (#23). Jim Brophy went to 22-3, 2.76 after going 5 7 1 1 1 2. He'll get one more start to try and tie the team record for wins in a season held by Nate Thompson (2036) and Brad Jackson (2041).

Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep and finished the season 64-17 at Publix Park with a 6-2 win over Columbus, their 7th straight. Brad Jackson was solid (6 6 2 2 0 2) and went to 16-7, 4.60, Josh Beckett broke a 2-2 tie in the 6th with an RBI double, and Tomas Laboy added a 2-run shot (#7) for some cushion.

Team record: 109-47. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Houston.

This was no surprise:

Also here's a look at the MLB standings going into the final week:

There's no suspense in the AL, and in the NL the only thing really left at stake is whether Atlanta or the Mets win the East as the two of them are 3 up on the Phillies for the second wild card.

Art Deco · 03-12-2022, 08:44 PM

Game 1: Dan Gregory's 2-run double in the 11th capped a 4-hit day for him and got the Rays a 9-7 come-from-behind win over Houston to open their penultimate series of the regular season. Josh Beckett's 15th HR with a man on in the 8th capped a 3-run inning which brought them level, and earlier they got two more homers from Luis Barela (#s 41 & 42) and a 2-run shot by Jon Callahan (#1). Gordie Ager wasn't great at 5 5 3 3 3 5 with 2 homers allowed and eventually the win went to Freddy Zamora (6-2), who went 2 2/3 but had to leave with back spasms so Sean Forbes got the final out for save #3.

Game 2: Just what we wanted while we wrap up the regular season - another extra-inning game. This one went 15 and Jaiden Hardaway's 2-run homer off Sean Forbes won it for Houston 7-5. The Rays thought they had the game won twice, first on Jimmy Leonard's 38th HR in the top of the 9th which made it 3-2, but Mike Barkley blew the save. Then in the 13th they scored three times, the first two on a dropped fly ball with two out, but Doug Combs and Jose Morales combined to allow 3 in the bottom of the inning. Greg Bookhart started and pitched well (5 7 1 1 0 6).

October 1: Optioned P Doug Combs and P Jose Morales to AAA Durham, recalled P Ismael Vargas and P Aidan Williams from AAA Durham.

With 26 innings played the last two nights fresh arms were needed for the pen.

Game 3: The Rays scored 9 times in the first 3 innings and held on for a 10-7 win over Houston to take the series. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with a bases-clearing double and set a personal high in RBI (91), Tony Cordova had a 2-run double and Jeff Googins a 2-run HR (#1) to build the early lead, but Jon Harbour gave a lot of it back although he still got his 4th win after going 5 9 6 4 1 5. Aidan Williams, just called up, picked up his 1st MLB save with a 1-2-3 9th. 2 of the runs Harbour allowed came on Jaiden Hardaway's 300th career homer.

Team record: 111-48. We've clinched the best record in the AL so we'll face the winner of the Yankees-Royals Wild Card Game in the ALDS and we close out the season with 3 at Yankee Stadium in a possible preview.

MLB races update: Most everything's clinched in MLB with the Rays, White Sox and Mariners division winners in the AL and the Reds and Giants division winners. But the NL East remains interesting with Atlanta and the Mets tied for the division lead and the Phillies 2 games back, with the division loser taking the second wild card after Arizona. The Mets and Atlanta are going head-to-head so we'll have a clear division winner but if one of them sweeps, Philly could swoop in and steal the loser's playoff spot.

Also we had this oddity in MLB:

This happened once before in this save, a game with only one hit between the teams, but this is the first the no-hit team won.

Art Deco · 03-12-2022, 10:25 PM

Some league honors:

What a season and what a second half for Barela.

Game 1: Josh Alexander hit a 2-run pinch-homer in the 9th (#46) to give him 150 RBI and to give the Rays a 4-3 win over the Yankees to open the final series of the regular season. Dan Anderson (6-3) got the win and Mike Barkley recorded save #29. Jim Brophy finished his regular season with a 6 2 1 1 2 3 outing and finishes his extremely likely Cy Young season at 22-3, 2.72. Unfortunately he missed the pitching triple crown in the AL by 1 strikeout to Houston's Elias Gomez.

Game 2: The Rays lost a 2-0 lead late but took a 3-2 win in 10 innings on Jon Callahan's RBI single. Brad Jackson closed the season in fine fashion with a 6 3 0 0 0 4 outing to finish 16-7, 4.45 and would have had the win had Alex Stephens not allowed a 2-run homer in the 8th. Seth Williams was 2-3 with an RBI double earlier.

October 4: Activated P Jose Mendoza from the 10-day IL, optioned P Aidan Williams to AAA Durham.

Game 3: Tampa Bay closed out the regular season with a 7-3 loss to the Yankees in New York. Jose Mendoza got the start for the first time in a month and was expectedly rusty, giving up 3 runs in the first but pitching two scoreless innings after that before coming out. Even Doug Johns got to pitch and he allowed 2 runs in 2 innings. Jose Mendez hit HR #24 for the highlight on offense.

Final Regular Season Record: 113-49. Next up: The ALDS opening at Publix Park against either the Yankees or the Royals.

MLB playoff race update: Things got briefly interesting in the NL when the Mets beat Atlanta the first two games, clinching the division for New York, and the Phillies split their two games with Columbus, leaving Philly with a shot at a tie on the final day with Atlanta for the 2nd NL wild card. But the Phils lost and Atlanta won, so it's Atlanta at Arizona in a few nights for the right to face San Francisco in the NLDS.

Art Deco · 03-12-2022, 11:23 PM

Final Rays team stats:

No matter what I do I just can't seem to improve the defensive efficiency, but we did vastly improve the zone rating, so I'm not sure what the disconnect is there. This has also been one of my more frustrating pitching seasons with the bullpen now wholly unreliable outside of Sato, Zamora and Barkley. I have no idea what happened to Ed Pretty and as for the starters losing Soland and Gird hurt.

The hitting stats:

Luis Barela, wow. Josh Alexander was just cruising to his 2nd MVP for the first 4 1/2 months of the season and then Barela just went ballistic. The offense was typically great, although Seth Williams, while having a year most players would be proud of, severely dropped off from his MVP season of 2042 (and his rookie season of 2041), going from 7.3 WAR last year to 3.3. Taking big leaps this year were Jose Mendez and Tony Cordova, and Tomas Laboy was impressive in his rookie season in limited action and would start for most teams.

The pitching numbers:

A mixed bag. The big 3 relievers combined for 8.2 WAR with Satoshi Sato having a Kikuo Kawase-like season. Not sure what happened to Jose Mendoza and I'm really not sure what happened to Ed Pretty, a guy who had 1.9 WAR out of the pen each of the previous two seasons. And Joel Gird was having a great season that got cut short.

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 12:08 AM

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 12:18 AM

And we're facing the Yankees again the playoffs...

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 12:22 AM

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 09:41 AM

Holy Barela!

It was looking like it was going to be one of those years when the Rays make an ALDS exit after Jim Brophy gave up 5 runs in the first two innings (who had that on their bingo card?). The offense chipped away at the big early Yankee lead but still trailed 6-4 going to the bottom of the 9th. However Seth Williams (who had homered earlier) singled, Josh Alexander walked and up stepped the man who's become the most fearsome hitter in MLB, Luis Barela, who took New York closer Victor Bustamante deep into the Tampa night for a walk-off winner. Gordie Ager will try to give the Rays a 2-0 lead tomorrow night.

In the other DSes:

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 10:17 AM

Walkin' it off again...

Once again the Rays win a game in the most dramatic of fashion - a 3-run walk-off homer. Today Jimmy Leonard was the hero. After squandering an earlier chance to be the hero when he struck out in the 11th with two men on, Leonard wasn't going to pass up the opportunity a second time and he launched one into the RF bullpen to give the Rays a big 2-0 lead in the ALDS. Things started off a lot like last night when the Yankees took a shock lead against another of our aces as Gordie Ager gave up a 3-run homer to wipe out a quick 2-0 lead the Rays took in the first. Also the much-maligned bullpen has been great in both games, today with 7 scoreless and Sean Forbes picking up the win. Brad Jackson will try to close it out at Yankee Stadium in two days.

One injury note: Jose Mendez had to leave yesterday's game with back tightness, diagnosed as "moderate" for two weeks so he was put on the IL and can't return until the World Series. Jeff Googins was added to the playoff roster to take his place.

In the other DS, the White Sox are looking at an early exit for the second straight year after a dominant regular season. Last year they won 106 and were dumped in the DS, and this year they won 109 and are now down 0-2:

For the second straight Chicago closer Walt Klopfer was lit up and blew the game.

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 11:37 AM

Art Deco · 03-13-2022, 12:53 PM

No sweep...

The Rays' offense was held in check and the Yankees stayed alive in the ALDS thanks to a 4-2 win. When Jon Callahan, who hit a 2-run homer, is your offensive star you know it might not be your best showing. Rookie Greg Bookhart will try to clinch it tomorrow.

Elsewhere:

Like the Yankees, the White Sox stave off elimination, while in the NL the Reds advance to the NLCS and Atlanta has come off the mat after being down 0-2 to even things up with the Giants.

03-08-2022, 12:17 AM	#1761
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	August 25-26, 2043: at Philadelphia (2) Game 1: The Rays faced a familiar face in an unfamiliar position tonight as Andy Ruggles, who spent the previous three years with the Rays as an OF/DH and smashed 100 homers in that time, was tonight's starting pitcher for the Phillies. Ruggles had pitched with Oakland before being acquired by the Rays but only made one mound appearance for Tampa Bay in those 3 seasons. He's been a regular part of the Philly rotation and was 6-5, 4.63 coming in with not a great BB/K ratio and tonight the Rays hit him for 5 9 5 4 1 4. But unfortunately Brad Jackson was worse and Ruggles and the Phillies got the win 9-6. Jackson was hit for 2 more homers and went 4 9 7 7 0 3. Luis Barela drove in a pair against his old team and Dan Gregory was 2-4 with a triple and an RBI but Jackson put them in too big a hole to overcame. Game 2: Sloppy play by the Rays tonight as a couple of key errors were followed by a couple of homers off Greg Bookhart, and the offense was stifled as the Phillies crushed them 10-1 tonight to sweep the 2-game series. Bookhart allowed 4 runs in the 3rd on a pair of homers but all the runs were unearned as was another run off him in the 6th as he finished with a strange 5.2 5 6 1 0 3 line which saw his record drop to 8-5 but his ERA improve to 3.95. Ed Pretty continues to be a disaster these days as he allowed 4 more runs in the 7th and now sports a not-nice 6.69 ERA. Team record: 91-36. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Baltimore.

03-08-2022, 10:07 AM	#1762
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	August 28-30, 2043: at Baltimore (3) Game 1: For the second straight game the Rays couldn't get any offense going and dropped a 4-2 decision to Baltimore at Camden Yards. Only a 2-run homer from Josh Alexander (#38) in the 8th got them on the board as they only managed 7 hits. Gordie Ager gave up a couple early runs but settled in to finish 5.2 7 3 3 2 6, losing for the first time as a Ray. Game 2: The Rays' late-August malaise continued as they were routed 9-2 by the Orioles, their fourth loss in four games on this road trip. Jose Mendoza continued his one step forward, two steps back season by taking a step back with 3 homers allowed in a 5 7 5 5 3 6 outing which dropped him to 12-8, 5.18. Luis Barela hit HR #31 in a losing cause. Game 3: Things looked different for the Rays today until they didn't as they were swept by the Orioles in walk-off fashion 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th. Jimmy Leonard hit a 3-run homer (#34) in the 1st to put them ahead early, and Jim Brophy pitched well (6 5 2 1 1 5). But they couldn't get any more runs on the board and after Brophy left Sean Forbes allowed 2 Oriole runs to put them ahead 4-3. The Rays dramatically tied it in the 9th with 2 out when Seth Williams singled home Mike Willis, who had a pinch-single and stole second, but Satoshi Sato had a rare rough outing, giving up 2 hits and a walk in the 9th to let Baltimore walk it off and leave the Rays 0-5 on the trip. Team record: 91-39. Next up: Back home for 4 vs Boston.

03-08-2022, 11:41 PM	#1763
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	August 31-September 3, 2043: vs Boston (4) Game 1: The losing streak reached 6 as the Rays dropped the opener of their 4-game set at Publix Park vs Boston 7-6. Brad Jackson continues in a deep slump and he was hit for all 7 runs today in a 3.2 9 7 6 1 1 outing to drop to 12-6, 4.92. He's allowed 21 ER in his last 4 starts covering 19 1/3 IP and has yielded 6 homers in that stretch. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI and Josh Alexander was 2-4 with a double and RBI as the Rays had plenty of chances to score more than they did, leaving 16 on base. September 1: Recalled IF/OF Jeff Googins and P Jose Morales from AAA Durham. Roster expansion time and Googins is a quality fielder at 6 positions with some pop who was up briefly earlier and for a stretch last year. Morales pitched well when up for Mike Barkley and gets another chance with the big club. Game 2: It wasn't pretty but the Rays broke their 6-game losing streak by outslugging the Red Sox 12-6. Doug Johns drove in 4 with a 3-run HR (#24) in the 1st and an RBI double, Josh Beckett stayed crispy with 3 RBI, including a 2-run homer (#13) and Jose Mendez was 2-4 with HR #18. Greg Bookhart started but couldn't make it through the 5th to get the win as he went 4.1 12 5 5 1 7 as his BABIP approaches .400. Dan Anderson (4-3) picked up the win in relief and Edgar Suarez was impressive, fanning all 5 men he faced. Game 3: Gordie Ager pitched well and the Rays took a 3-1 lead into the 7th but the bullpen failed them again in a 5-run Boston 7th and they dropped their 7th in 8 games 6-4. The surprising culprit today was Satoshi Sato (8-2), who came in with a 0.76 ERA and saw it nearly double to 1.50 after giving up 4 runs in that inning. It wasn't all his fault as he gave up the tying runs then departed for Ed Pretty, whom I brought in for some reason despite his recent horrid form, and he of course gave up a 3-run homer to the first batter he faced. Ager was 5.2 6 1 0 2 4. The 3 early Rays runs came on a 2-run Luis Barela homer (#32) and Jimmy Leonard went back-to-back with him for #35. Game 4: The Rays salvaged a split with the Red Sox thanks to a 7-5 win but lost starter Jose Mendoza for the rest of the regular season. Mendoza left in the 2nd inning with a sore elbow which will sideline him for about a month. His inability to have a minor league rehab assignment might lead him to being left out of the playoff rotation, if not the roster, though. Luis Barela homered two more times today, (#s 33 & 34), driving in 3, while Doug Johns (#25) and Jose Mendez (#19) went back-to-back in the 4th with solo shots. Dan Gregory was 3-4 with an RBI as well. Jon Harbour (3-0) picked up the win in relief and he's going to get first crack at taking Mendoza's rotation spot. Freddy Zamora had a 1-2-3 9th for save #15. Team record: 93-41. We no longer have the best record in baseball as the White Sox are 94-41. Next up: Minnesota visits for the weekend.

03-09-2022, 10:23 AM	#1764
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 4-6, 2043: vs Minnesota (3) Game 1: Jim Brophy hurled a 3-hit shutout and the Rays romped over Minnesota 9-0 at Publix Park. The lefty toyed with the Twins, walking none and fanning five on 108 pitches and is the AL Cy Young-elect at 19-2, 2.80. And the AL MVP-elect is likely Josh Alexander, who was 4-5 with a double (his 52nd), 2 homers (39 & 40) and 5 RBI (he now has 133). Kevin Morley added HR #6. Game 2: The Twins were what the Rays and Brad Jackson needed as they annihilated Minnesota 16-1 as both put aside their recent struggles. Jackson was 6 3 1 1 2 3 to improve to 13-6, 4.79 and there were plenty of hitting heroes. We'll start with the evergreen Josh Alexander, 4-6 with another double, another homer (#41) and 3 more RBI. Then there was Dan Gregory with a grand slam (#10) in a 5-RBI day, Seth Williams 2-5 with a 3-run HR (#13) and 4-hit days from Josh Beckett and Tony Cordova. And let's not forget Jimmy Leonard's 2-run HR (#36). Game 3: The Rays gave Minnesota another comprehensive beating with a 7-1 win and a sweep by an aggregate score of 32-3. Greg Bookhart was dazzling (6 1 0 0 0 8 on 92 pitches) to up his record to 9-5, 3.99 while Seth Williams drove in 3 and Dan Gregory was 2-3 with an RBI. Josh Alexander had an off-day by recent standards by only going 2-5 with a lone RBI. Team record: 96-41. Next up: 3 games at Fenway against the Sawx.

03-09-2022, 10:22 PM	#1765
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 7-9, 2043: at Boston (3) Game 1: The Rays' road losing streak reached 7 as the bullpen woes continued in a 7-4 loss at Fenway to Boston. Gordie Ager was decent (6 4 3 3 1 5) and they took a 4-3 lead into the 7th when Sean Forbes and Satoshi Sato, who were good for the first 2/3 of the season, struggled once again and combined to allow 4 runs in the inning with Forbes dropping to 6-2. Luis Barela was 3-5 with an RBI to lead the bats. Game 2: Tampa Bay finally snapped its road losing streak with a 7-4 win at Fenway, although the middle relief was shaky again. Josh Alexander had HR #42 and Luis Barela #35 but leads of 2-0 and 3-2 were lost before Seth Williams drove in the final 3 runs of the game to put them ahead for keeps. Jon Harbour got his first start in over two years and pitched pretty well, running out of gas in the 5th but going 4.2 3 2 2 3 5. Edgar Suarez (2-1) blew the lead in the 6th but vultured the win when the Rays went ahead 5-3 on RBI singles from Tony Cordova and Williams in the 7th. Sean Forbes struggled again, giving up a run in the 7th before Freddy Zamora rescued him and pitched through the 8th while Mike Barkley picked up save #24, his first since July 26 as he was out several weeks and there just haven't been many save opportunities of late with the Rays either winning via rout or losing. Game 3: The Rays lost their 8th road game in 9 after Boston bested them 7-2 in the rubber game of the series. It was a 1-1 game into the 6th with Jim Brophy looking for win #20, but instead he gave up a 3-run homer and Ed Pretty behind him gave up still another homer, a 2-run shot and that was that. Brophy dropped to 19-3, 2.92 after going 5.1 7 4 4 2 6. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with a double and an RBI as the only Ray who could say he had a good game. Dan Gregory hurt his back and will be out a week with a "moderate" injury, but we won't IL him with the extra players up. Team record: 97-43. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Detroit.

03-10-2022, 10:36 AM	#1766
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 11-13, 2043: at Detroit (3) Game 1: The Rays' road woes continued as they fell 4-2 to Detroit, making it 9 away games lost in their last 10. Brad Jackson wasn't terrible (6 9 3 3 1 5) but he wasn't great either and dropped to 13-7, 4.78. Jose Mendez hit HR #20 in a losing cause. Game 2: The bats erupted for 7 runs on 4 homers in the first inning alone as they beat the Tigers 13-6, although not without letting Detroit get within 9-6. Josh Alexander had a 3-run shot (#43), Luis Barela went back-to-back with him for #36, Josh Beckett hit #14 and Tony Cordova #5 in the opening frame alone and Doug Johns had a bases-clearing double later to lead the attack. Greg Bookhart got the early support and cruised for a while before giving up a slam in the 5th and another run in the 6th to finish 5.1 5 6 6 2 4 but still improve to 10-5. Game 3: The bullpen has been a real problem for the Rays the second half of this season and today was another example as they lost leads of 3-1 and 7-3 in the 9th inning to lose 8-7. Mike Barkley (1-5) was one out away from nailing it down with two on and two out in the 9th but Josh Beckett booted a grounder that would have been the third out and Barkley gave up a 2-run single and then a 3-run homer to let the Tigers win. Gordie Ager started and went 5.2 5 3 3 2 3 with Doug Combs allowing the tying hit, but Tomas Laboy had his second big hit of the game, a 2-run double to make it 5-3 Rays, Beckett singled him home and Mike Willis of all people hit a 447-ft blast to dead center for only his 2nd homer of the year and the Rays looked golden, but no. Team record: 98-45. Next up: The road trip continues with 3 in Toronto. The win in the second game officially clinched the AL East for the 22nd straight year, but this team is limping toward the playoffs.

03-10-2022, 11:20 PM	#1767
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 14-16, 2043: at Toronto (3) Game 1: Trailing 1-0 after 6 and 2-1 after 7, the Rays fought back late to take a 4-3 win over the Jays at Rogers Centre. Seth Williams hit a 2-run HR (#14) in the 8th to give them a 3-2 lead, but Satoshi Soto lost that lead in the bottom of the frame. Sato was picked up by Tony Cordova, who went deep in top of the 9th (#6) to provide the game-winner. Freddy Zamora (5-2), who got the final out in the 8th, stayed on for the 9th to preserve his own win. Game 2: Jim Brophy became the newest Rays 20-game winner and nearly pitched a shutout in a 3-1 win over Toronto. Brophy took a 4-hitter into the 9th before giving up a 1-out homer to spoil the shutout and finished 8.1 5 1 1 0 8 to improve to 20-3, 2.84. Mike Barkley got the final 2 outs for save #25. Solo homers from Doug Johns (#26) and Jose Mendez (#21) were all the offense needed tonight. Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep of Toronto with a 6-2 win but would have traded it for a healthy Dave Frick as they lost their slick-fielding SS to a broken ankle in the 5th inning, ending his season. Brad Jackson pitched well (7 7 2 1 1 4) and went to 14-7, 4.63 while Doug Johns (#27) and Jose Mendez (#22) both homered for the second straight game and they were joined by Dan Gregory who had a 2-run blast for his 11th. Team record: 101-45. Next up: Back home for 4 games vs Detroit.

03-11-2022, 11:13 AM	#1768
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 17-20, 2043: vs Detroit (4) September 17: Placed SS Dave Frick on the 10-day IL with a broken ankle, recalled IF Jon Callahan from AAA Durham. Frick is out for the year but we still have 2 spots on the 40-man and the season is almost over, so no need to use the 60-day IL. Callahan has been screwed of late, he started last year as the backup IF and played well before suffering a season-ending injury, and had to go to Durham this year since he had an option and Tomas Laboy didn't. Callahan played a good SS at Durham and probably will slot in as our regular SS vs righties with Jeff Googins against lefties. Game 1: The Rays took the opener of the 4-game series against Detroit, a team we didn't see all year and now are suddenly playing 7 times in 10 days, 6-4. Greg Bookhart pitched well and pitched to contact, going 5.2 5 2 2 1 1 and improving to 11-5, 4.21 while Mike Barkley had a 2-whiff 1-2-3 9th for save #26. Josh Beckett led the offense, going 2-4 with 3 RBI including a 2-run triple. Game 2: A 5-1 lead after 5, Gordie Ager on the mound, what could go wrong? Well Ager for one as he was hit for 5 runs in the 6th and the Rays ended up losing 7-5. Ager wasn't helped by a Tomas Laboy error but still was responsible for 3 of the 5 runs and finished 5.2 8 6 4 1 1. As well as he's pitched overall with the Rays his record is only 2-2 with 8 no-decisions although he did get the decision today. Josh Beckett drove in two more and Dan Gregory was 2-4 with and RBI to lead the offense which went cold late. Game 3: Jon Harbour's third start since joining the rotation did not go nearly as well as the first two as he was hit for 4 runs in the first two innings and the Rays lost again 5-3. Harbour was 3.2 8 4 4 1 2 and took his first loss of the year. Doug Johns had a solo homer (#28) and Luis Barela a 2-run single for the offense. Game 4: Jim Brophy was dazzling again as his season for the ages continued in a 7-1 Rays win to salvage a series split. Today he was 7 2 1 1 0 11 and his season numbers are 21-3, 2.78. He leads the AL in the pitching triple crown categories (Wins, ERA, Ks) as well as pitcher WAR. Josh Beckett concluded a weekend to remember for him as he was 4-4 with 3 more RBI including a 2-run double and Doug Johns was 2-4 with an RBI double. Team record: 103-47. Next up: The homestand continues with 3 vs Toronto. Last edited by Art Deco; 03-11-2022 at 11:14 AM.

03-11-2022, 11:44 PM	#1769
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 21-23, 2043: vs Toronto (3) Game 1: A 3-man offense accounted for all the runs in a 9-7 win over Toronto that shouldn't have been that close. Luis Barela had a 3-run HR (#37) and RBI single to knock in 4, Kevin Morley launched a 3-run shot (#7) and Jose Mendez drilled a 2-run double to supply the offense, and Brad Jackson pitched well enough (5 8 4 3 1 2) to get the win and go to 15-7, 4.66. With a 9-4 lead Ed Pretty came on and immediately put three men on, and then Freddy Zamora gave up 3 straight singles to score them. Mike Barkley had to hold the fort in the 9th for save #27. Game 2: The Rays ran roughshod on the Jays in a 16-4 rout. Luis Barela topped his 4-RBI game yesterday by driving in 5 on a pair of homers to give him 39 and a single to give him 122 RBI. He's taken over the MLB WAR lead at 7.8 and might become the 2nd man in MLB history after Frank Robinson to win the MVP in both leagues. His chief rival for the hardware is teammate Josh Alexander and he did his best to keep up with Barela by blasting a 3-run shot (#44) while Tony Cordova added a 2-run jack (#7). Jose Mendez drove in 3 more runs and Seth Williams had 3 doubles and an RBI. Greg Bookhart converted the run support into win #12, although he finished 5.1 7 4 4 0 8. Game 3: Gordie Ager was brilliant and got the win in a 5-2 triumph over Toronto, his 3rd with the Rays and only his 5th decision in 13 starts since joining the club. Ager was 6 3 0 0 1 8 and Mike Barkley had a 1-2-3 9th for save #28. Kevin Morley had a 3-run homer in consecutive starts (#8) and Seth Williams had a solo blast (#15). Luis Barela didn't homer again but was 2-4 with a double and RBI. Team record: 106-47, we've wrested the best record in MLB back from the White Sox now. Next up: An off-day then Columbus visits for 3 in some late-season interleague action.

03-12-2022, 10:48 AM	#1770
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 25-27, 2043: vs Columbus (3) Game 1: The Rays took a 5-1 win over the Lightning to open their final regular season series at Publix Park in 2043. Jimmy Leonard was 3-4 with HR #37, Jon Callahan had a 2-run single to break a 1-1 tie in the 6th, and Doug Johns delivered a 2-run single for insurance in the 7th. Jon Harbour started but ran up a pitch count forcing him to leave in the 5th having gone 4 4 1 1 2 5 on 86 pitches. Dan Anderson (5-3) got the win in relief and Freddy Zamora recorded the final four outs for save #16. Game 2: The Rays lambasted the Lightning 14-7 in a game that was only that close because Alex Stephens gave up 5 runs in the 9th. Luis Barela keeps doing his thing 2-4 with a double, HR #40 and 4 RBI, Josh Alexander also hit a 2-run HR (#45) as part of a 3-5 day, Dan Gregory had a 3-run blast (#12) and Jose Mendez had one too (#23). Jim Brophy went to 22-3, 2.76 after going 5 7 1 1 1 2. He'll get one more start to try and tie the team record for wins in a season held by Nate Thompson (2036) and Brad Jackson (2041). Game 3: The Rays completed the sweep and finished the season 64-17 at Publix Park with a 6-2 win over Columbus, their 7th straight. Brad Jackson was solid (6 6 2 2 0 2) and went to 16-7, 4.60, Josh Beckett broke a 2-2 tie in the 6th with an RBI double, and Tomas Laboy added a 2-run shot (#7) for some cushion. Team record: 109-47. Next up: An off-day then 3 games in Houston. This was no surprise: Also here's a look at the MLB standings going into the final week: There's no suspense in the AL, and in the NL the only thing really left at stake is whether Atlanta or the Mets win the East as the two of them are 3 up on the Phillies for the second wild card.

03-12-2022, 08:44 PM	#1771
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	September 29-October 1, 2043: at Houston (3) Game 1: Dan Gregory's 2-run double in the 11th capped a 4-hit day for him and got the Rays a 9-7 come-from-behind win over Houston to open their penultimate series of the regular season. Josh Beckett's 15th HR with a man on in the 8th capped a 3-run inning which brought them level, and earlier they got two more homers from Luis Barela (#s 41 & 42) and a 2-run shot by Jon Callahan (#1). Gordie Ager wasn't great at 5 5 3 3 3 5 with 2 homers allowed and eventually the win went to Freddy Zamora (6-2), who went 2 2/3 but had to leave with back spasms so Sean Forbes got the final out for save #3. Game 2: Just what we wanted while we wrap up the regular season - another extra-inning game. This one went 15 and Jaiden Hardaway's 2-run homer off Sean Forbes won it for Houston 7-5. The Rays thought they had the game won twice, first on Jimmy Leonard's 38th HR in the top of the 9th which made it 3-2, but Mike Barkley blew the save. Then in the 13th they scored three times, the first two on a dropped fly ball with two out, but Doug Combs and Jose Morales combined to allow 3 in the bottom of the inning. Greg Bookhart started and pitched well (5 7 1 1 0 6). October 1: Optioned P Doug Combs and P Jose Morales to AAA Durham, recalled P Ismael Vargas and P Aidan Williams from AAA Durham. With 26 innings played the last two nights fresh arms were needed for the pen. Game 3: The Rays scored 9 times in the first 3 innings and held on for a 10-7 win over Houston to take the series. Josh Beckett was 3-4 with a bases-clearing double and set a personal high in RBI (91), Tony Cordova had a 2-run double and Jeff Googins a 2-run HR (#1) to build the early lead, but Jon Harbour gave a lot of it back although he still got his 4th win after going 5 9 6 4 1 5. Aidan Williams, just called up, picked up his 1st MLB save with a 1-2-3 9th. 2 of the runs Harbour allowed came on Jaiden Hardaway's 300th career homer. Team record: 111-48. We've clinched the best record in the AL so we'll face the winner of the Yankees-Royals Wild Card Game in the ALDS and we close out the season with 3 at Yankee Stadium in a possible preview. MLB races update: Most everything's clinched in MLB with the Rays, White Sox and Mariners division winners in the AL and the Reds and Giants division winners. But the NL East remains interesting with Atlanta and the Mets tied for the division lead and the Phillies 2 games back, with the division loser taking the second wild card after Arizona. The Mets and Atlanta are going head-to-head so we'll have a clear division winner but if one of them sweeps, Philly could swoop in and steal the loser's playoff spot. Also we had this oddity in MLB: This happened once before in this save, a game with only one hit between the teams, but this is the first the no-hit team won.

03-12-2022, 10:25 PM	#1772
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 2-4, 2043: at NY Yankees (3) Some league honors: What a season and what a second half for Barela. Game 1: Josh Alexander hit a 2-run pinch-homer in the 9th (#46) to give him 150 RBI and to give the Rays a 4-3 win over the Yankees to open the final series of the regular season. Dan Anderson (6-3) got the win and Mike Barkley recorded save #29. Jim Brophy finished his regular season with a 6 2 1 1 2 3 outing and finishes his extremely likely Cy Young season at 22-3, 2.72. Unfortunately he missed the pitching triple crown in the AL by 1 strikeout to Houston's Elias Gomez. Game 2: The Rays lost a 2-0 lead late but took a 3-2 win in 10 innings on Jon Callahan's RBI single. Brad Jackson closed the season in fine fashion with a 6 3 0 0 0 4 outing to finish 16-7, 4.45 and would have had the win had Alex Stephens not allowed a 2-run homer in the 8th. Seth Williams was 2-3 with an RBI double earlier. October 4: Activated P Jose Mendoza from the 10-day IL, optioned P Aidan Williams to AAA Durham. Game 3: Tampa Bay closed out the regular season with a 7-3 loss to the Yankees in New York. Jose Mendoza got the start for the first time in a month and was expectedly rusty, giving up 3 runs in the first but pitching two scoreless innings after that before coming out. Even Doug Johns got to pitch and he allowed 2 runs in 2 innings. Jose Mendez hit HR #24 for the highlight on offense. Final Regular Season Record: 113-49. Next up: The ALDS opening at Publix Park against either the Yankees or the Royals. MLB playoff race update: Things got briefly interesting in the NL when the Mets beat Atlanta the first two games, clinching the division for New York, and the Phillies split their two games with Columbus, leaving Philly with a shot at a tie on the final day with Atlanta for the 2nd NL wild card. But the Phils lost and Atlanta won, so it's Atlanta at Arizona in a few nights for the right to face San Francisco in the NLDS.

03-12-2022, 11:23 PM	#1773
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	Final 2043 Regular Season Standings and Rays Stats Final Rays team stats: No matter what I do I just can't seem to improve the defensive efficiency, but we did vastly improve the zone rating, so I'm not sure what the disconnect is there. This has also been one of my more frustrating pitching seasons with the bullpen now wholly unreliable outside of Sato, Zamora and Barkley. I have no idea what happened to Ed Pretty and as for the starters losing Soland and Gird hurt. The hitting stats: Luis Barela, wow. Josh Alexander was just cruising to his 2nd MVP for the first 4 1/2 months of the season and then Barela just went ballistic. The offense was typically great, although Seth Williams, while having a year most players would be proud of, severely dropped off from his MVP season of 2042 (and his rookie season of 2041), going from 7.3 WAR last year to 3.3. Taking big leaps this year were Jose Mendez and Tony Cordova, and Tomas Laboy was impressive in his rookie season in limited action and would start for most teams. The pitching numbers: A mixed bag. The big 3 relievers combined for 8.2 WAR with Satoshi Sato having a Kikuo Kawase-like season. Not sure what happened to Jose Mendoza and I'm really not sure what happened to Ed Pretty, a guy who had 1.9 WAR out of the pen each of the previous two seasons. And Joel Gird was having a great season that got cut short.

03-13-2022, 12:08 AM	#1774
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 6, 2043: NL Wild Card Game

03-13-2022, 12:18 AM	#1775
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 7, 2043: AL Wild Card Game And we're facing the Yankees again the playoffs...

03-13-2022, 12:22 AM	#1776
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 8, 2043: NLDS Game 1

03-13-2022, 09:41 AM	#1777
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 9, 2043: ALDS Game 1 & NLDS Game 2 Holy Barela! It was looking like it was going to be one of those years when the Rays make an ALDS exit after Jim Brophy gave up 5 runs in the first two innings (who had that on their bingo card?). The offense chipped away at the big early Yankee lead but still trailed 6-4 going to the bottom of the 9th. However Seth Williams (who had homered earlier) singled, Josh Alexander walked and up stepped the man who's become the most fearsome hitter in MLB, Luis Barela, who took New York closer Victor Bustamante deep into the Tampa night for a walk-off winner. Gordie Ager will try to give the Rays a 2-0 lead tomorrow night. In the other DSes:

03-13-2022, 10:17 AM	#1778
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 10, 2043: ALDS Game 2 Walkin' it off again... Once again the Rays win a game in the most dramatic of fashion - a 3-run walk-off homer. Today Jimmy Leonard was the hero. After squandering an earlier chance to be the hero when he struck out in the 11th with two men on, Leonard wasn't going to pass up the opportunity a second time and he launched one into the RF bullpen to give the Rays a big 2-0 lead in the ALDS. Things started off a lot like last night when the Yankees took a shock lead against another of our aces as Gordie Ager gave up a 3-run homer to wipe out a quick 2-0 lead the Rays took in the first. Also the much-maligned bullpen has been great in both games, today with 7 scoreless and Sean Forbes picking up the win. Brad Jackson will try to close it out at Yankee Stadium in two days. One injury note: Jose Mendez had to leave yesterday's game with back tightness, diagnosed as "moderate" for two weeks so he was put on the IL and can't return until the World Series. Jeff Googins was added to the playoff roster to take his place. In the other DS, the White Sox are looking at an early exit for the second straight year after a dominant regular season. Last year they won 106 and were dumped in the DS, and this year they won 109 and are now down 0-2: For the second straight Chicago closer Walt Klopfer was lit up and blew the game.

03-13-2022, 11:37 AM	#1779
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 11, 2043: NLDS Game 3

03-13-2022, 12:53 PM	#1780
Art Deco Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 6,949	October 12, 2043: ALDS Game 3 & NLDS Game 4 No sweep... The Rays' offense was held in check and the Yankees stayed alive in the ALDS thanks to a 4-2 win. When Jon Callahan, who hit a 2-run homer, is your offensive star you know it might not be your best showing. Rookie Greg Bookhart will try to clinch it tomorrow. Elsewhere: Like the Yankees, the White Sox stave off elimination, while in the NL the Reds advance to the NLCS and Atlanta has come off the mat after being down 0-2 to even things up with the Giants.